December 26, 2025
Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer
Overall: 124-19 and 20-7 at Alabama
Postseason Appearances at Alabama: Two (ReliaQuest in 2024 and 1st Round CFP in 2025)
2025 Record: 11-3
Mascot: Big Al
Colors: Crimson and White
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 18 claimed titles
Conference Titles: 30 SEC and 4 Southern Conference
Heisman Winners: Four (Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith, Bryce Young)
Last Week: 34-24 win at Oklahoma in CFP First Round
Betting Information
Indiana (-6.5) vs. Alabama | Total of 48.5
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Ty Simpson – 293 of 457 (64.1%) for 3500 yards with 28 TDs and 5 INTs
Rushing: Jam Miller – 130 carries for 504 yards with three TDs
Receiving: Germie Bernard – 60 receptions for 802 yards with 7 TDs
Tackles: Deontae Lawson – 85 tackles including 4 TFLs
Stat of the Week: The Alabama Crimson Tide will be playing in their ninth Rose Bowl (if you don’t count the 2010 BCS National Championship Game). Their first trip was 100 years ago as the Crimson Tide traveled West on a train and shocked Washington 20-19 in a game that most feel signaled the arrival of the South as a force in college football.
Alabama Talking Points
- Aerial Power or One-Dimensional?
How you view Alabama’s offense is a matter of perspective. On one hand, the Alabama Crimson Tide have a very powerful passing attack with a quarterback that was a Heisman Trophy contender until the very latter part of the season. Ty Simpson has played fantastically at times and he’s had to join with a great receiver corps to carry the offense. Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, Isaiah Horton and freshman Lotzier Brooks each have more than 30 receptions and 440 yards and tight end Josh Cuevas is a proven security blanket for Simpson. That passing attack could certainly cause IU problems but it’s not the whole story with Alabama’s offense.
Their offensive line has been erratic, ranking 86th (of 134) in sacks allowed and the Crimson Tide have been shockingly poor running the ball. The Tide will turn to Jam Miller and Daniel Hill but neither back averages more than 3.88 yards per carry. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb does not emphasize running the ball with Alabama at only 30.7 carries per game, 120th in the country. Of IU opponents, only Purdue and Maryland had less interest in running the rock. Alabama is averaging 3.2 yards per carry (127th nationally) and IU is 12th nationally, allowing only 3.1 yards per rush.
2. Elite Secondary Takes On HeisMendoza
Most of the attention surrounding Alabama gets put on the offense but the defense has been the more consistent unit. The strongest part of defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s unit? A top ten secondary that is allowing only 168.4 passing yards per game and is as talented as any back-end in the country. It’s fair to assert that there are opportunities for success. Oklahoma just had more than 300 yards passing in Norman, Auburn had more than 250 in Alabama’s Iron Bowl win, South Carolina had 222 and Tennessee threw for 268. The pass defense will be a challenge for Fernando Mendoza and the IU offense, particularly after a long break but this is hardly a “no fly zone” unit that is impossible to move it on. Alabama’s run defense is solid, ranking 44th nationally with 3.9 yards per rush allowed, and it will be critical for the Hoosiers to stay balanced throughout the contest.
3. The Granddaddy of Them All
The famous words of Keith Jackson are synonymous with the Rose Bowl Game but they could also be used to describe the Alabama football program. The Crimson Tide are as blue-blood and storied of a program as it gets in college football and having Alabama play in the sport’s most historically significant game is a big deal. Add in the stakes of a College Football Playoff quarterfinal with a trip to the Peach Bowl and a shot at the National Championship and you have a gigantic occasion. Many called IU’s clash against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game the biggest in program history and it’s fair to assert that this contest is even bigger. How does Alabama, a program accustomed to playing in huge games, handle the moment? How will Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers handle the game and how rusty will they be after having nearly a full month off since last playing?
Alabama fans on message boards have been generally dismissive of IU and the season the Hoosiers have had, leaning on the historical placement of both programs as well as an assured sense that the SEC is better than the Big Ten to inform their expectations. IU fans will certainly know the names of Kalen DeBoer (former OC), Kane Wommack (former DC), Nick Sheridan (former OC and former staffer) and Dave Ballou (former strength coach) and this game is loaded with storylines. Of course, none of that will matter once the ball is kicked off and the two teams do battle for 60 minutes with the San Gabriel mountain range in the distance.